Eleanor Craik: How the Norfolk Deaf Festival began (BSL)

The Norfolk Deaf Festival began in 2017, it was a one day event planned in less than 2 months. A huge undertaking!

The Norfolk Deaf Festival started as an idea from Teacher of Deaf Eleanor and her CSW Claire. We felt that there was something missing within the Norfolk community to really bring deaf people and their friends and families together.

Over the years we have learnt so much, not just in logistics of getting organisations and artists together on the same day in the same place but also in the importance of identifying who we are and what we stand for. Our work is founded on the 4 ‘E’s.

1. Equality – of access to information, services and the arts for all deaf people. To promote deaf awareness and ensure information given is accessible for all through medium of sign language interpreters or technology for deaf people.
2. Empower – empowerment through positive deaf role models and opportunities to take part through volunteering or learning a new skill.
3. Educate – opportunities for professionals to upskill in order to best support deaf and hard of hearing people, signpost deaf and hard of hearing people and their families to local and national provisions available.
4. Everyone – bring deaf and hard of hearing people and their families/friends together and help the hearing community to engage with and learn about deaf people. Support further events to be accessible in the region. Whatever your hearing loss, you are not alone.

Last year we had Luke Christian, a deaf model come and do a talk about his life, a theatre group called FLOOD perform about the damage to oceans in a visual and meaningful way. The Bear Ear Clinic came along, with story time based on the story ‘Can Bears Ski’ read by Polly Dunbar, a deaf illustrator. We have representation in the form of stalls from local crafters and from providers of deaf equipment and information e.g. Advanced Bionics, Deaf Connexions, Robotica and so many more.

This year our theme is ‘comedy’ and we have the infamous Gavin Lilley hosting as well as talking about his life. Deaf fest on tour will be joining us too to show some deaf film screenings. We even have a talk from the local police force after discovering that deaf people are unsure if they can go for a job role within the service.  We also have Samantha Baines, a deaf author doing a book signing, Lucy Rogers, a deaf illustrator reading a story and many more inspiring deaf role models taking part in the day.

Our young deaf people in our large county of Norfolk get the opportunity to see older role models, to engage in interactive art and to meet each other for a fun time. For many it’s the highlight of their year as a Teacher of the Deaf myself I often get asked, when is the next one?!

People from all over the UK come to our two-day festival. This year the festival is on Friday 7^th July and Saturday 8^th July 2023 at The Forum, Norwich. There is also a comedy evening on Saturday 8^th July.

If you are interested in coming along or finding out more, please follow us on Facebook or Instagram @norfolkdeaffestival or see our website https://www.norfolkdeaffestival.co.uk. Hope to see you all there!